Apple Media Event Announcement? iPod Updates Later...

[aunderwo]

iTMS Store updated before Media event with no major changes

I feel (read I hope) that the lack of any new music added today (Tues) means that there is a big enough change coming to iTunes / Music Store content, that they need to wait until after tomorrows event and reveal. This hopefully means video, but at least means more than a stupid phone.

The iTMS has nowbeen updated- before the Media event. Wasn't it Labour day holiday on monday in the US- could this have been the reason for the delay? I'm thinking there may be no big iTMS update today but just the phone 🙁

 

[Squire]

Alright guys...seriously, you need to consider the invitation.

'Here we go again' implies an entire new venture - a new industry which Apple can totally kick everyone's ass in yet again.

The iPod revolutionized the MP3 player - it revolutionized what we now know as digital music.

An iPhone...what's that revolutionize? Think about it - it's still just a phone. A phone you can listen to songs on to! But not a 'revolution'

I agree. And I think we'll either be very disappointed tomorrow or blown away. (I know that sounds obvious but an announcement of new flash-based iPods and the phone would be, in my opinion, somewhere in the middle.)

I disagree.

Look at the market Apple was entering into. It was pathetic at the time, plagued by hard drive mp3s that crashed when you played certain songs and had such a difficult to use UI that they were, in a word, useless.

Apple made the hard drive MP3 player. No one, and I mean no one, has come close to achieving what Apple has achieved thus far.

A phone that plays music? Even Microsoft's pathetic 'Janus' technology is supported on phones already. If you can use a phone with a subscription service like Napster (which you can), I'm thinkin that this isn't revolutionary at all. Not even impressive.

And to think I almost bought one of those huge Creative Nomad Jukeboxes. Well, they (Apple) don't really own the flash-based mp3 market. Maybe the announcement of up to 8GB flash-based players is a move, a checkmate if you will, to totally do away with the competition.

You're right about the phones...I think. There are some pretty impressive devices out there. (Especially here-- ones that have 5 megapixel cameras, camcorders, mp3 players, TVs, and so on built in.) That said, I wish I could buy a phone designed by Apple. My recent Motorola and Samsung phones have had mediocre UI.

I don't think this contradicts Steve at all. He said that he thought that the phone companies offering songs at $2 a pop was a losing proposition. He didn't say that they wouldn't try. It's Cingular that will try to offer them at that price from their site, not ITMS.

Hmmm...

Well, it's going to be a lousy buying experience, and the music is going to cost two to three times as much as if you buy it on your computer. It's hard to imagine that customers are that stupid.

I find it hard to believe that iTunes would be on a phone that would allow the user to buy tracks from a service other than iTunes. No, I think we'll see another Steve Jobs patented backpedalling act. Sure, the other services would offer a "lousy" buying experience compared to iTunes. But I think the $2/song is simply a matter of Apple taking whatever they can get from the carriers. I don't believe companies were bashing down the gates of Cupertino to beg for iTunes on phones for a buck a tune. Most reports I've read implied that Apple/Motorola had a hard time finding a carrier.

Squire

 

[lostusername]

the iPhone WILL be big

would it not be quite significant if apple presented their Mobile OSX with iTunes on a Motorola ROKR phone ?

then, if they have in addition worked on either an iPod add-on or their own Apple iPhone running Mobile OSX integrated with .mac, wouldn't this Rock®?

 

[tcn33]

The iTMS has nowbeen updated- before the Media event. Wasn't it Labour day holiday on monday in the US- could this have been the reason for the delay? I'm thinking there may be no big iTMS update today but just the phone 🙁

The US store sorta has and sorta hasn't been updated - the front page is still the same as last week (free tracks and all) but behind the scenes, the new (Sept 6) releases are there. It's not yet 6am Eastern though, so it may well be all up and running shortly.

No new iTMS podcast yet though...

 

[b0x]

The US store sorta has and sorta hasn't been updated - the front page is still the same as last week (free tracks and all) but behind the scenes, the new (Sept 6) releases are there. It's not yet 6am Eastern though, so it may well be all up and running shortly.

No new iTMS podcast yet though...

My local dealer seemed to ge getting a lot of stock today, hopefully there was some 2 gb iPod Shuffles in there!

 

[Analog Kid]

Look, I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't get an invite or an announcement. Maybe I got dropped from the mailing list or something, but what that tells me is that this event isn't for us. This is for the media hounds that keep predicting the doom of iPod because it's only a matter of time before the phone replaces it.

No mention on the website, no announcement in the rotating headlines on the main page. Nothing. This isn't for consumers. This event is for the media and analysts.

Remember the New York Times article saying the labels are waiting for cell phones to break Apple's grip on the market? This is a big party saying "we are the cell phone music market".

Yes, we knew this was coming. No, it's not a surprise if you've subscribed to News Alerts from every major website looking for matches on "Apple". Yes, it's a bit of a disappointment if you're waiting for a major product release, but it's also a major blow if you're a label trying to re-negotiate your contract based on the imminent doom of the iTMS stranglehold.

I really doubt they're going to dilute this announcement with video. Even if a video iPod were in production and warehoused, I think they'd put it on hold for 3 months so the impact of this can sink in.

If this was supposed to be for us, we'd have gotten a notice either through .Mac or the website, or something. They haven't said boo to consumers. Don't expect a major consumer release. Expect the 800lb gorilla to beat it's chest, raise it's fur, and growl at the industry.

 

[Hattig]

I seriously do not think that Apple and Motorola would hold separate events, in San Francisco and New York respectively, with another event in London IIRC, merely about a phone with iTMS compatibility. It isn't as if music playing is a new feature on a mobile phone, nor is buying music on a mobile phone a new concept. Tying together the iTunes interface with iTMS on a mobile phone is interesting, but not *that* interesting. It certainly isn't as exciting as that invite makes it out to be.

Yes, the iPhone will be a part of the media event, but only a part. The phone will sell well of course, if it has iPod branding.

Knowing Apple, it'd also have something like 'well, we couldn't let the phone be the only iPod with Bluetooth headset capability, so we've added bluetooth to the entire range of iPods. Oh, and the phone can play video on its display, and we couldn't let it be the only iPod to do that, so we've added that to the entire iPod range. Of course, what good is video without a place to get them, hence our new iTunes Video Store for music videos and more! And now you can watch video podcasts on your iPod too!'

That'd be more interesting. New capabilities are interesting. Changing from 1" hard drives to flash is technically interesting, but not that interesting overall. iPhone is nice, but it isn't that exciting. If there is nothing else announced, then Apple might as well give up and admit that, yet again, they will eventually turn a massive market advantage into 5% of the market due to not keeping the product line current.

 

[Neerazan]

Airport A/V - People just don't get it yet...

Now, it's only six and abit hours before Steve steps up and shows us what the heck is going on, but I am hoping (as are a few others here) for the Airport A/V and iTunes 5 with video store.

Why?

Well, here's the thing. At the moment Apple make the best machines in their class for editing and manipulating high quality video, be that documentary, drama, sci-fi, short films, television programmes, whatever...

Digital video has got to a place now that DTP got to many years ago ago. What it used to take hundreds of thousands of dollars to do, now takes a couple of thousand. Lots of people are making good, low budget stuff out there, it is just really tricky to get it to an audience in a quick and easy way.

And it isn't just the small budget stuff, what about those TV series that get cancelled after one series, because the TV network execs decided it wasn't what they wanted? Hundreds of thousands of fans of series that just got cut half way through, wanting to know what happened next?

Apple could revolutionize the way TV series get made, they could put the power in the hands of the audience to fund what they want to watch, and return creative freedom to the programme makers.

I don't want to watch Buffy repeats on a tiny screen (any portable screen is gonna be tiny compared to my wide screen TV at home) on a video iPod. But I would love to be able to pay to see some new original show that I subscribed to via iTunes 5 (Mac or PC), streamed wirelessly into my TV via my new Airport A/V, complete with on screen menus and remote control.

Well, six hours to go. I predict the revolution will be televised. I bet I'm wrong though 🙂

 

[dernhelm]

Let the whining begin!

I'm guessing that the "POS phone" is all you'll see, but I'm also betting that by the end of the presentation, Jobs wiil have convinced a full 60% of the posters here that it really is the best thing since sliced bread.

The other 40% are why I still lurk here - the ranting is absolutely hysterical!

All I'll say is this - only the negative features have already leaked < 150 song cap, etc. I'm guessing that there will be some other feature about this "POS phone" that will have a lot of people raving. Don't know what that is, but that's my guess.

 

[asxtb]

The US store sorta has and sorta hasn't been updated - the front page is still the same as last week (free tracks and all) but behind the scenes, the new (Sept 6) releases are there. It's not yet 6am Eastern though, so it may well be all up and running shortly.

No new iTMS podcast yet though...

Maybe it's just me but the music videos haven't been updated in weeks.... It was also mentioned that the $2 downloads could be for music videos... I hope not. I liked the free music videos.

 

[chouk]

"1000 song in your pocket"
it gotta be a new ipod shuffle with a 2 gig.

 

[dernhelm]

the iPhone WILL be big

would it not be quite significant if apple presented their Mobile OSX with iTunes on a Motorola ROKR phone ?

then, if they have in addition worked on either an iPod add-on or their own Apple iPhone running Mobile OSX integrated with .mac, wouldn't this Rock®?

Dude, I want some of the Kool-Aid you've been drinking. OS/X on a cell phone? If only I could believe.

🙂

 

[Sky Blue]

The US store sorta has and sorta hasn't been updated - the front page is still the same as last week (free tracks and all) but behind the scenes, the new (Sept 6) releases are there. It's not yet 6am Eastern though, so it may well be all up and running shortly.

No new iTMS podcast yet though...

The front pages for the US and UK stores are still the same as last week, but in the just added section of the UK store it lists music for 6 sept...
Also, the link that you click on the main page to get the screen with all the flags now says 'Choose music store' on the UK Page...but still says 'Choose store' on the US one....hmmmm....

 

[Squire]

I'm guessing that the "POS phone" is all you'll see, but I'm also betting that by the end of the presentation, Jobs wiil have convinced a full 60% of the posters here that it really is the best thing since sliced bread.

The other 40% are why I still lurk here - the ranting is absolutely hysterical!

Great post and so true. One reason I am so disinterested in a phone is because I know I won't be able to buy one. While there's a pretty good selection of Motorola phones here, I highly doubt an Apple-branded phone would become available. (You guys should see the three..count 'em...Nokia flip phones available here. That's the whole lineup.) Add to that the fact that there's no iTMS Korea (yet) and the likelihood of me being able to reap the benefits of today's announcement become very, very unlikely.

Call me selfish but we're all a little guilty of that at times. 😉

Squire

 

[0098386]

aw, i like the HD in my mini. maybe because it is just so small. oh well. i've made myself the promise not to get a new iPod until mini's (or if the form factor of big iPods drop) get to 30gb. i know its aaages off.

so all this today?! wow. i just woke up too.

 

[conditionals]

Let's chillax and keep it real. Will it be anything interesting?
Just like it was going to be Video Ipods on July 7th.
Just like it was going to be Widescreen iBooks that time a month or so ago.

It will be only the phone. Apple is the king of making us sad this year. I don't see them abdicating.

 

[tcn33]

Also, the link that you click on the main page to get the screen with all the flags now says 'Choose music store' on the UK Page...but still says 'Choose store' on the US one....hmmmm....

It's also "Choose music store" on iTMS Canada. Why the need to differentiate unless Apple are about to start selling something other than music?

Although if I worked for Apple, I would have so much fun messing with people. The slightest change to wording, shipping times or layout and we can infer just about anything 🙄

 

[Chundles]

OK,the final nail in the disappointment coffin would have to be if this damn phone is a flip-phone. I hate flip-phones.

 

[petej]

Unfortunately, media events are likely to be a significant part of Apple's future. Given the quantities of products - iPods/phones that Apple now need to shift each year Apple will want to get maximum media buzz/coverage and the only way to do that is organised media events / hospitality. If the press can be convinced then so will consumers. The Mac Expo's do not command quite the same level of media interest. Unfortunately for Mr Jobs, the task of woowing the media is a lot harder than preaching to the converted.

For the UK iTunes music store, there was a special media event. A lot of money was put into telling the media that the store was open for business - something that everyone had guessed anyhow. Regardless of how great an idea the iTunes phone may be, Apple still have to market it. The less wonderful/groundbreaking it is, the harder marketing have to work.
Apple also have to respond to the PSP threat - there are already quite a few in evidence on public transport and people only have a limited number of pockets/bags.

 

[conditionals]

Regardless of how great an idea the iTunes phone may be, Apple still have to market it. The less wonderful/groundbreaking it is, the harder marketing have to work.

See, here is a pete who knows what he is talking about. They days of Apple pleasantly suprising us seem to be in the past... hey, maybe we're just becoming smarter at prefiguring what the company is going to do, and thus everything they release is already old news.

Also, I accidentally typed 'talking' as 'talkign'. Don't you think 'Talkign' would be a better name for the IGN forums?

 

[Stella]

"1000 songs in your pocket".

an iTunes phone how is it being rumoured can't hold that amount of songs.

Something more else?

It would take a while to download songs on anything but 3G enabled cell phones. I didn't think the u.s had 3G network yet?

$2 per song to download - yea right. Only mugs would do that - buy via iTMS and then upload to phone.

 

[Porchland]

Apple Store

All of the iPods in the Apple Store currently say 24-hour availability. I guess that means none of the current configurations are getting EOLd, but it doesn't necessarily mean we won't see new form factors and sizes. Who knows.

 

[Porchland]

The iTMS has nowbeen updated- before the Media event. Wasn't it Labour day holiday on monday in the US- could this have been the reason for the delay? I'm thinking there may be no big iTMS update today but just the phone 🙁

No new big-deal artists or tracks. No Madonna as rumored, but I suspect there might be a pre-order for her new album/single, though it may be early yet since the album isn't due until November.

 

[conditionals]

"1000 songs in your pocket".

an iTunes phone how is it being rumoured can't hold that amount of songs.

Ah yes, but I think 'pocket' is the key! I reckon they'll come up with a wanky one line hyperbole that will sell the ability to download songs to the iPhone, eg: '2,000,000 songs in your pocket' (ie: you can buy any of the songs on the music store on the go).

I totally just figured out their selling point! Hold me to this. Hold me to this like a rat stuck to the floor of a glue factory. HOLD ME TO IT!!!!!!!!!!!


Or they could go with: 'music sounds better when emitting cancerous rays. Live dangerously.'

 

[FunkSpaceMonkey]

1. How much longer till we know?
2. Can anyone answer my previous question?

That is all